Self-closing hinge



A. S. HUGHES.

SELF CLOSING HINGE.

APPLICATION man JULY 2, 1920.

Patnted Aug. 9,1921.

2 SHEETS--SHEET I INVENTOR ATTO RN EY A. s. HUGHES.

SELF CLOSING HINGE.

7 APPLICATION FILED JULY 7| 1920- 1,386,6Q1 Patented-Aug. 9, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Arfiz ur ,S. Hughes INVENTOR WITNESSES OM W', v 4 mm to any strict conformity UNHTED STATEfi earner enema.

SELF-CLOSIN G HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

Application filed July 7', 1920. Serial No. 394,437.

I '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. HUGHES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Self-Closing Hinge, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hinges, and the general object of the invention is to provide a hinge for a swinging closure which will cause automatic movement of the closure to a predetermined adjustable position.

The present invention is an improvement on the hinge patented by me January 6, 1920, 10. 1,327,045.

A specific object of the invention is to effect improvements inthe patented hinge particularly by providing a spring therefor to give more life to the hinge; by providing an adjustable track over which the roller travels as the door is swung; by improving the construction of the roller so asto give a large bearing surface, thus insuring long life; to provide an improved support for the roller; to provide means whereby the door rises higher above the hinge support when pushed inwardly than when pulled outwardly; and finally to improve upon the top hinge connection.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the-appended claims.-

In the drawing V Figure 1 is a perspective view of a series of compartments provided with the invention, showing two doors in closed position and an intermediate door ajar, each of the doors being hung on the left side.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the hinge parts in elevation, the

door being indicated as hung on the right side.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the member which receives the upper pintle.

.Fig. 5 is a detail view ofthe lower hinge with the showing the lower hinge member and its connection with the door,

showing the parts in the position when the door is swung intermediate or neutral.

F 1g. 7 is a detail view of the lower hinge member and its connection with the door, showing the parts in the position when the door is swung inwardly.

F ig.'8 is a vertical cross-sectional view through thelower hinge with the door shown in the intermediate position.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the bracket.

The numeral 10 represents the posts upon which doors 11 are hingedly mounted. Each door 11 has a channel plate 12 fixed on its upper edge near one corner. From the top of the channel plate 12 rises the upper pintle 13. The pintle 13 is received within a cylindrical tube or bushing 16 supportedby a housing including a pair of arms 14: and an intermediate roll section 15. The roll section 15 surrounds the main part of the outer surface of the bushing 16 and prevents lateral movement on the part of the bushing. The arms 14 are secured in an convenient way upon the post 10. Preferably the bushing is welded or otherwise permanently secured within the roll 15, and after being so secured, is reamed out to provide a true fit for the pintle 13. This pintle both swings and slides within'the bushing 16 when the door swings in either direction and it is highly desirable that the fit of the pintle'13'within the bushing be a nice one.

While the, upper hinge connection which has just been described forms a part of the present invention. it is to a certain extent independent of the lower hinge construc tion, and in fact might be used with a lower hinge made similarly to the one disclosed in the patent referred to above. It is the lower hinge structure which forms the principal part of the present invention.

Along the lower edge of the door near one corner'thereof a channel-shaped member 17 is secured. From the web of this channel member an ear or lug 18 isstruck out, as most clearly shown in Fig. 8. The car 18 extends in a vertical to the-face of the door.. A long pintle 19 is secured in any desirable way to the web of the channelmember 17 with its longitudinal axis vertical and therefore parallel to plane at right anglesthe ear or lug 18. A pin issecured to the car 18 and extends transversely through the pintle 19 near the secured end thereof whereby the pintle and ear together'support the pin in fixed position parallel to the lower edge of the door and lie in a horizontal plane. The pin 20 carries a roller generally cylindrical in form but comprising an en larged head 21 and a reduced neck 22. The length of this rolleris substantially equal to the distance between the ear and the pintle 19. e 1

The head 21. of the roller has a wide bearing surface to ride upon a track provided on the upper face of a block 23. The block 23 at its lower face is flat and is supported by means to be described upon that face. A

' central bore 23 isprovided in the block 23 portion of the portion 26. 26 is of least thickness;

l tracks,

I does the section that thedoor may be more easily pulled out- I swingsbackwardly,

"and a sleeve 29 is in alin'ement with the bore 23*, providing substantially a continuation of said bore. The sleeve29 is disposed vertically when; the parts are assembled A I upper face of the block 23 is flatgbut the edge or marginal part'of the block the raised trackpo'rtions 2 k, 25, both' track sectionsibeing arcuate and rising from either side of a depressed or valley The block at the valley portion The. head 21 of the roller has a width fully'equal to the width of the track portions-24:, 25, and as the door is swung toand frothe roller rides over the thus-raising or lowering the" door, causing movement of theupper pintle 13 into orout of the bushing '16. The bushing 1611513? ng h at least equal to the length Of the pintle13.

Each track section 24; 25=fihas an even or constant inclination in the" present'construction. The track sect1on 2 1 isshown asonf the outside of the'door and-rises to a less height above'the upper face of block 23 than 25. The effect of this is wardly than pushed inward-1y ;'and if piilled inwardly, returns more, quickly to the inter mediate position. Furthermore, is pulledoutwardly. and then rebounds or the higher inclined secg tion 25- prevents much of swingin got-1' thepart of the door. The neutral position of the" door is the one illus'-j' 8', wherethe roller the s'ectionj 26 -of the trackl- Itwill be clear thatloy'shifting the angular positionof the block' 23', theneu- Figs. 3, 6 and has its I head seated upon tral position of thedoor willalso be shifted -1 so that the door may be brought to' rest- Figlfl, or may be made to automatically close'and latch itself."

fn-jFig'. 9. This bracket ofarm's 27 adapted to inclosethe' sides of posts 10 and'be secured respect tothe able tov have if the door a rebound or back The and provides a pivot for the block 23 wher'eby the angular position of the block with plate 28 may be varied. Concentric with theaperture '28 is a pair ofa'r'cuate slots-30J The lower face of block 23 has a pair of screw-threaded bores for receiving set screws or the like 31 which also pass through construction allows shifting of the block with respect to the bracketand securing of, the block in adjusted positions. 7

g The lower end'of pintle 19 has an axial s'creWthre'a-ded"bore receiving an adjusting; screw A washer or equivalent element 32 is mounted on theadjusti'ng screw 33.

the arc'uate slots 80. This A coil sprii'ig is mounted on the' sleeve'29 and bears at the lower end against the washer 32 and at the upper end against the under side of plate 28. It is possible to vary the tension of the spring 345by turning the screw 33. The effect of spring 3& is to maintain thepintle 19- in its lowermost position, this position being determined by the roller where seatedupon the low section 26 ofthetrack-m; The advantagegained in nountingthe roller as described 'i'sto provide a broad substantial bearing for the' -d'o'or. The only wearing part of the hinge isth'e' 'a'xle or bear-- ing of the roller.- It is therefore very de'sirhroadiloearingso that the stress may be distributedio'i er a" larger area. The" constru tion is'e conomical as two orth essential member-s of the hingeproper are used to support the roller; conseqi'i'ently cutrequired' The ad ust-menjt of the trackis a very important feature since'it allows the hinge to be iis'ed with doors which should 7 automatically close {and latchf'aswell as with doors which come to "rest in a partly open position; 'asdisclo'sed in the p'atent re-' ferred to'i It 'is'only'neces'sary to move the track slightly one way or 'the other in' orderfi ting down the number of :parts'etherwise r to bring the door to. theposition desired when the screws w-ilhbetightened and the door willalways lee-brought to the desired position withoutfany considerable rebound-j ing or swinging; The use Z'ofthe' spring is very desirablesince it has *found that a door provlded'with hinges, as disclosedin tennis-rats very" lazily; The. manner" of mounting the spring has special features in that the spring 1s rehevedof anything in' tihe way-of a twisting or t n-n ing stress and consequently is relieve def liability ;of br aka e; The. method iof mountingthe fspringbrings the compression square upon it The adjustment of the tension of the spring makes it possible to cause the doors to close with the desired speed.

What is claimed is 1. A door hinge structure comprising a member secured upon an edge of the door, a pintle secured to the member and extending at right angles thereto, a cylindrical bushing or tube having a length at least equal to the pintle, and a holder for the bushing, said holder comprising flanges for mounting on a support, and an intermediate roll partly embracing the sides of the bushing and being permanently connected thereto and holding the bushing in a position to receive the pintle and allow sliding and swinging of the pintle therein.

2. A hinge structure including a member adapted to be secured upon the lower edge of the door, a roller mounted on and carried by said member, and a block providing a track for the roller, said block being adjustable in various angular positions about its center to adjust the neutral position of the door.

3. A door hinge structure including a bracket, a block supported by the bracket,

and a roller mounted on the door and bearing against the block, said bracket including a pair of arms adapted to be secured to the vertical surfaces of a support, and a plate joining the arms and disposed at right angles thereto, said plate having an aperture, said block having a flat face adapted to rest upon the plate, and an opposed face having an inclined track upon which the roller runs when the door is swung, a sleeve passing through said aperture, a bore in alinement with the sleeve, and means whereby the relative angular position of the block and plate may be adjusted and maintained.

4- A door hinge structure including a bracket, a block supported by the bracket, a pintle secured upon the door and passing through the block and bracket, and a roller carried upon the door and movable over the block, said bracket including a pair of arms adapted to be fixed upon a support and a plate joining the arms and at right angles thereto, said plate having an arcuate slot,

the block having a screw-threaded bore, a spring adjustably mounted on the pintle and engaging the plate, and -means passing through the slot and engaged with the screwthreaded bore for permitting adjustment of the position of the block on the bracket.

5. A door hinge structure comprising a bracket secured to a support, a block mounted on said bracket, a member secured to the lower edge of the door, a pintle secured to said member and extending through both the block and bracket, a sleeve secured to the block and passing through the bracket and receiving the pintle, a spring mounted on the sleeve and pintle and tending to move the pintle downwardly through the sleeve,

sleeve secured to the block and and a roller supported by the pintle and bearing upon the upper face of the block.

6. A door hinge structure comprising a bracket mounted upon a support, a block adjustably mounted upon the bracket, and a pivotal connection between the door and bracket, said connection including a roller movable over the face of the block.

7. A door hinge structure comprising means for pivotally mounting the door, and means for causing the door to return to a given position, said latter means being adjustable whereby the neutral position of the door may be varied at will.

8. A door hinge structure comprising means for pivotally supporting a door, said means causing rising of the door with respect to its support when it is swung in either direction, the rising being of greater extent when the door is swung'one way than when it is swung the other way.

9. A door hinge structure comprising means for pivotally supporting a door, said means causing rising of the door with re spect to its support when it is swung in either direction, the rising being of greater extent when the door is swung one way than when it is swung the other way, and means whereby the rise of the door as it is swung either way may be retarded or advanced.

10. A hinge structure comprising a bracket, a block mounted upon the bracket and having raised track portions rising from either side of a depressed or valley portion, one of said track portions rising to a less height than the other portion, and a member carrying a pintle and a roll-er, the latter traveling upon the track portions.

11. A hinge structure comprising a bracket, a block mounted upon the bracket and having raised track portions rising from either side of a depressed or valley portion, one of said track portions rising to a less height than the other portion, a member carrying a pintle and a roller, the latter traveling upon the track portions, and means for adj ustably mounting the block upon said bracket whereby the depressed or valley portion of the track may be shifted for the purpose set forth.

12. A bracket for a door hinge structure including a pair of arms adapted to be secured to the vertical surfaces of a support, a plate at right angles to the arms and joining the arms, said plate having a central aperture, and an arcuate slot in the plate eoncentric with the aperture.

13. A door hinge structure including a support, a block mounted on the support, said block being flat on one face and having a raised arcuate track on the other face, a extending from the flat face thereof through the support, a bore in the block in alinement with the sleeve, and a pintle passing through the pivotally mounting the door.

bore of the block and through the sleeve for 14, A door hinge structure including a bracket, and a block supported by the bracket, said bracket including a plate having a central aperture, an arcuate slot in the plate concentric with the aperture, said block having a flat face adapted to rest upon the plate, a sleeve passing'through the aperture, a bore in alincment with the sleeve, and means whereby the relative angular positions of the block and plate may be adjusted and maintained. 7 v

15. A door hinge structure including a bracket, a block supported by the bracket, a pintle secured upon the door and passing through the block and bracket, and a roller carried'upon the door and movable over the block, said bracket including a plate having an arcuate slot, the block having a screwthreaded bore, and means passing through the slot and engaged with the screw-threaded bore for permitting adjustment of the position of the block on the bracket.

16. A door hinge structure including a bracket, a block supported by the bracket, a pintle secured upon the doorrand passing the aperture and receiving the pintle, and

means passing through the slot and engaged with the screw-threaded bore for permitting adjustment of the position of the blo k on the bracket. i c

J 17. A 1 door hinge structure including a bracket, a block supported by the .bracket, a

pintle secured upon'the" doorand passing through'the blockandbracket, and aroll'er' carried upon the door and movable over the block, said bracket including a plate having an arcuate slot and a'central aperture, the

blockhavin'g a screw-threaded bore, a sleeve integral with the block and passing through the aperture and receiving the pintle, a;

spring mounted on the sleeve and pintle'and engaging the "plate, and means passing through the slot and engaged "with the screw-threaded bore'for permitting adjustment of the position of the block onthe bi'acke't.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing v as my own, Ihave hereto alfixed myisignathrough the block and bracket,- and a roller tui carried upon'the door and movable over the ARTHUR SHERIDAN HUGHES. 

